Apparatus for cutting metallic leaf



L. M. HARWOOD.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING METALLIC LEAF. APPLICATION FILED DEC.27, I921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I INVENTOR BY WYM ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 5, 192-2.

L. M. HARWOOD. APPARATUS FOR cumwc METALLIC LEAF.

APPLICATION FILE-D DEC. 27. I92l.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVE TOR 0424b W BY 1M ATTORNEYS rarest orrics.

LEON-1V1. nanwoon, orsrnrnorintn, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING IVIETALLIC LEAF. a

Application filed December 27, 1921. Serial No. 525,240.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that T, Lnon M. HAnwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Metallic Leaf, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cutting metallic leaf, and while the invention is capable of general ap plication it linds an advantageous use in coniection with a device for depositing metallic leaf from the roll.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved means for cutting metallic leaf, which mea'nsis quickly and conveniently operable and severs the leaf with a draw cut, accomplishing its function on the delicate leaf with accuracy and efficiency.

The invention has for another object to associate a cutting device of the character described with a device for applying or depositing metallic leaf from the roll, the arrai'i einent being such that the supporting st with the leaf thereon may be con veniently unwound and the amount of leaf required severed from the remainder and V ilied or deposited, as desi ed.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the illustra ve embodiment of theinvention in the 'mpanying drawings, in which.-

1 is a plan view of a device for apply j or depositing metallic leaf and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, thereof; and

Fi s. 3 and il are views taken similarly to Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, showing a modification of the invention.

lie erring to these drawings, the apparatus includes two spared side plates or frames 5 which are suitably connected together near one end by a cross plate 6. Near the opposite end of each plate 5, an ear 7 is provided which is offset outwardly, the two ears serving to support between them a rod 8 suitably secured thereto. The plate 6 has fixed thereto a handle 9, by means of which the apparatus may be manually supported and manipulated.

Mounted for vertical adjustmentin, and located between plates 5, is an arbor 10 which serves to support a package roll 1" of'metallic leaf andits core o. Such package roll consists of acontinuous supporting strips, such; as tissue paper or the like,

and metallic leaf Z thereupon, either in continuous form or otherwise, as desired. The vertical t l]1lSi3Illl1iJ described 1s,in this instance,eliected by locating the end portions of arbor 1O in'substantially vertical slots 11' formed in the plates 5 and springs 12, secured at one end to the arbor 10 and at the other end to plates 5, serve to draw the arbor and the package roll downwardly.

Mounted at its ends in and extending between plates 5 and adjacent the package roll 1 is a roll 13 and similarly mounted near the forward and lower corners of plates 5' tion of springs 12 andthe supporting strip extends over this'facing and thence to and partially around the depositing roll 14, returning over roll 13 and'between the latter and the underside of plate 16. c The free end of strip s may be pulled to unwind the leaf and, since the strip is engaged between roll 13 and plate 16, it is thereby tensioned as well as the leaf carried thereby. The facing 17 tends to electrify the leaf as it is drawn thereovcr and cause it to cling tightly to the supporting strip 8.

The cross-bar 8 serves as a guide for a knife support 18 slidably mounted upon it and capable also of rocking movement thereon. To the free end of the member 18 is suitably fixed, as by the screw 19, a knife 20, herein shown as a circular knife. The important point regarding the knife is that it should have a curved portion to engage the leaf Z and sever it with a draw out. It is, therefore, preferably non-rotatable, but it need not necessarily be circular, as shown, although this arrangeijnent is desirable in that, by adjustment of the knife about its axis, fresh cutting edges may be brought into play when desired. The knife 20 is intended to engage the leaf Z while on the depositing roll 14, but it is capable of being swung upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction and then downwardly to engage and sever the leaf Z while on the frictioning member 17. The knife has a travel on its guide rod 8 which is at least commensurate with the width of the leaf Z. To prevent injury to the knife, when it is moved beyond the ends of the leaf, stops 21 are provided on the ears 7 to engage the member 18 and force it outwardly.

In Figs. 3 and 4, a modification of the invention is shown which is preferred where the strip is to be unwound by the act of rolling the depositing roll over the article to which the leaf is to be applied. general arrangement of this apparatus and the cutting device thereof are the same as already described. In lieu of the member 16, I provide a roll 25, preferably having a peripheral covering of rubber 26, which roll is rotatablymounted in side frames 5 and so located that the package roll 1 is drawn thereagainst by springs 27 acting on the ends of arbor 10. A somewhat larger depositing roll 28 is used which preferably has a peripheral covering 29 of rubber or the like, but is mounted in a similar manner and location as already described. A roll 30 is supported between the rolls 25 and 2S and the strip 3 is led around roll 28 to roll 30, and over the latter to roll 25. By this arrangement, I find that the strip 8 will unwind as the frame is pushed along to cause roll 28 to roll over the article to which leaf is to be applied, the roll 30 by gripping the strip between rolls 25 and 28 serving to tension the strip. The strip clings to the covered roll 28 and the latter and roll 25 cause roll 30 to turn.

In operation, the leaf is unwound by pulling strip 3 or by rolling the depositing roll over the article to which the leaf is to be applied, accordingly as the form shown in Figs. 2 or 4- respectively is used, the apparatus being held 'by the handle 9 and Themanually manipulated as desired. After the desired amount of leaf has been unwound, the knife 20 is moved toward roll 1-1 to engage leaf Z and is then drawn across the leaf to quickly and accurately sever it. Metallic leaf is extremely delicate to handle and to cut it cleanly is not as easy of accomplishment as might be supposed. I have found that the best results can be obtained under the present conditions with a nonrotary knife, which hasa curved cutting edge to engage the leaf at only one point at a time, and which when drawn across the leaf cuts the latter with a draw cut.

The invention has been disclosed herein in an embodiment at present preferred for illustrative purposes, but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a member upon which the leaf may be positioned for cutting, a slidable knife support, a non-rotary knife fixed to said support and having a curved cutting edge to engage the leaf at one point at a time, and supporting means for said member and knife support.

2. In combination, a frame, supporting means thereon for a package roll of metallic leaf, a member carried by said frame over which the metallic leaf with its supporting strip is'drawn as it is unwound from said roll, a slidable knife support carried by said frame, and a non-rotary knife fixed to said support and having a curved cutting edge to engage theleaf while on said member and engage the leaf at but one point at time.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

LEON M. nanwoon. 

